El Paso County sheriff's detectives are investigating the death of a teenager whose body was found Sunday as a homicide, officials said Tuesday.

Michael Anthony Tapia, 16, was found dead at about 5 p.m. Sunday by deputies responding to a call about "an unresponsive person" in a desert area near Flager Street and Tangerine Avenue in Montana Vista, sheriff's officials said.

A sheriff's spokeswoman said that she could not disclose a possible cause of death because it is part of the investigation.

Sheriff's detectives are asking for help from anyone who might have had contact with Tapia or who has information regarding his death.